Blood Sugar Support
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The reasons for controlling blood sugar
levels in your body are compelling indeed. Not only is there
a strong relationship between blood sugar numbers and cardiovascular
health, but the latest studies show that they greatly affect
how well we age—both on the inside and outside! If you’re
concerned about looking young, maintaining healthy blood sugar
levels benefits the contours of your face more than treating
them with pricey wrinkle creams.
The Glycemic Index
Glycemic Index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates based on
their immediate effect on blood glucose (blood sugar) levels.
It compares foods gram for gram of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates
that break down quickly during digestion have the highest glycemic
indexes. The blood glucose response is fast and high. Carbohydrates
that break down slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the
blood stream, have low glycemic indexes. Try to eat as many
foods as possible with a GI of 50 or less to keep blood glucose
levels within a healthy range. To learn the GI of your favorite
foods visit www.glycemicindex.com.
Checklist for Maintaining Blood Sugar Health
- Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day on foods,
in coffee or tea. As an alternative, cinnamon capsules are
also available.
- Use fructose in place of sugar. The Glycemic Index of fructose
is less than half that of sugar, so it won’t cause
a blood sugar spike with the subsequent burst of insulin
into your bloodstream.
- Exercise! Ever wonder why you feel more energetic
after exercise even though you spent 30 grueling minutes
puffing on the elliptical? It’s because exercise significantly
helps insulin to move sugar out of the blood into the cells
where it can be used for more energy. Without exercise, a
lot of the sugar may never reach the cells, but remains in
the bloodstream.
- Eat dairy products with a meal. A major study of 3000 people
found that lactose, protein, and the special kind of fat
found in dairy products can keep blood sugar levels in the
healthy range both by filling you up and by slowing the conversion
of food sugars to blood sugar.
- Get 8 hours of sleep. The latest research shows that when
your body is short-changed of sleep, it quickly feels stressed,
and that stress interferes with your body’s natural
ability to handle blood sugar.
Seven Supplements that Support Blood
Sugar Health
- Chromium—The
body uses it to metabolize sugars and fats, and it is the
perfect partner to insulin, increasing the hormone’s
efficiency in transporting blood sugar into the cells.
- Alpha
Lipoic Acid—Improves insulin function by helping
to burn glucose for energy. It also offers antioxidant
protection to all cells of the body.
- Gymnema
sylvestre—A traditional Ayurvedic sugar metabolizer.
- Mormordica—Promotes
healthy glucose metabolism.
- Cinnamon (Cinnulin
PF)—Helps the body use insulin more effectively
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 Richard A. Anderson, USDA Agricultural
Researcher has been studying the effects of cinnamon on
insulin and glucose for more than 20 years. His research
indicates that the active principles in cinnamon are a
group of water-soluble compounds known as type-A polymers,
which help make insulin receptor sites more sensitive to
insulin. The patented method used to produce Cinnulin PF
extracts the water-soluble type-A polymers while leaving
behind the fat-soluble compounds. This enables the production
of an ultra-potent cinnamon extract that is highly effective
yet free of side effects. What sets Cinnulin PF apart from
other cinnamon extracts is its proven track record of safety
and effectiveness for blood sugar maintenance. According
to Dr. Anderson, “Cinnulin PF is a water extract
of cinnamon which contains active compounds to help control
glucose levels without harmful toxins.”
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| Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D.,
is a USDA research scientist who has studied cinnamon for
nearly 20 years. |
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- Vanadium—Trace mineral that promotes carbohydrate
metabolism.
- Fenugreek Seed—Lowers the glycemic index of food.
Try two capsules of FenuLife brand fenugreek seed 30 minutes
before each meal. For more detailed information on how fenugreek
lowers the GI of your meals visit www.fenulife.com.
The Role of Fiber
Study after study
shows that fiber is an overwhelming factor in controlling sugar,
because it really slows down the release of glucose into the
bloodstream. We clearly were designed to eat juicy fruits,
colorful vegetables, grainy breads, crunchy nuts, and versatile
beans rather than the sickeningly sweet, overprocessed and
practically dead food to which our taste buds have grown accustomed.
Seriously, try to add more fiber to your diet and you’ll see measurable results. Aim for
25 grams if you’re female and 38 grams if you’re
male. Here are five foods that will bring your daily total
closer to those numbers:
- Apples—These tasty treats are so good for you, and
the fiber content of a medium size apple (weight of approximately
6 ounces) with the skin is 4 grams.
- Beans—Baked beans are yummy, but sometimes we skip
them because they cause us, ahem…gas. If that’s
the case, take an enzyme supplement like N-Zimes PA Plus
and don’t worry. A half cup gains you 6 grams
of fiber.
- Nuts—Sprinkle an ounce of chopped nuts on cottage
cheese, salad, or cereal and count another 3 grams
of healthy fiber.
- Oatmeal—Start the day with a cup of this hearty cooked
cereal and score 4 more grams. Add a tablespoon
of a fiber supplement like Swanson Golden Fields to the oatmeal
and get another 5 grams as bonus points.
- Whole Wheat Bread—Just one slice of a particularly
grainy bread can add anywhere from 3 to 6 grams.
Check the label for the exact amount.
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